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Margharete Ross letter to her suitor, James Hunter Shotwell, September 1, 1891

Your letter arrived and brought with it both pain and pleasure. Pleasure through hearing from you and pain by being once more convinced that you care for me. You will say that those thoughts should bring more pleasure than pain and they would undoubtedly with you because you are able and capable of giving as fully as receiving, but would it be a pleasure to you, to receive that which it would be impossible for you to give? No, no that would not be human nature. Your regard for me was more of a surprise to me than I can possibly tell you. The first time that such thoughts occurred to me was when “Aunt Nancy” told me. How she knew I know not. I laughed at her, she was so in earnest and

Your letter arrived and brought with it both pain and pleasure. Pleasure through hearing from you and pain by being once more convinced that you care for me. You will say that those thoughts should bring more pleasure than pain and they would undoubtedly with you because you are able and capable of giving as fully as receiving, but would it be a pleasure to you, to receive that which it would be impossible for you to give? No, no that would not be human nature. Your regard for me was more of a surprise to me than I can possibly tell you. The first time that such thoughts occurred to me was when “Aunt Nancy” told me. How she knew I know not. I laughed at her, she was so in earnest and